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Alabama

We've organized a comprehensive list of Alabama nursing schools. Below you'll find information on specific nursing programs such as LPN certificates and ADN, BSN, and MSN degrees. You'll also find a profile of nursing education and careers in each major Alabama city.

The path to a lucrative career in nursing in the state of Alabama begins with obtaining the proper education and training at an accredited nursing school. The state, which is home to an impressive population of more than 80,000 nursing professionals, also requires licensing, registration and/or certification, plus continuing education for every nursing career path. Some of the most common nursing career paths include certified nursing assistant (CNA), licensed practical nurse (LPN), and registered nurse (RN).

Following a national trend, jobs for registered nurses (RNs) in Alabama are expected to grow in the coming years. Registered nurses play a critical role in addressing the need for more qualified healthcare workers to attend to the increasing number of sick, disabled, and elderly patients. Proof of this critical demand is similar growth in the number of nursing aides needed to help registered nurses perform basic nursing functions.

If you’re compassionate and find real fulfillment in caring for the sick and elderly, then the job of a nursing assistant is cut out for you. It’s a rewarding job not just in terms of the sense of fulfillment, but in potential compensation as well. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a certified nursing assistant in the state of Alabama receives an annual average salary of $21,030. They are in high demand in health care facilities, including hospitals, hospice facilities, and homes for the elderly.

To become a nurse, your best first step is earning a degree or certificate from an accredited nursing program. A full-term bachelor of science in nursing degree, or BSN, is your optimal choice if you’re interested in a long and financially rewarding nursing career. However, this path is expensive and requires at least a four-year commitment.

If you’re compassionate and find real fulfillment in caring for the sick and elderly, then the job of a nursing assistant is cut out for you. It’s a rewarding job not just in terms of the sense of fulfillment, but in potential compensation as well. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a certified nursing assistant in the state of Alabama receives an annual average salary of $21,030. They are in high demand in health care facilities, including hospitals, hospice facilities, and homes for the elderly.

In Alabama, there is an exceptional range of nursing education programs available. Large public universities are an affordable way to obtain higher-level education with specific discounts for studying in-state or in-county. A bachelor’s or master’s degree from a public institution opens a vast range of nursing careers and often a higher pay bracket.

The all-in cost of nursing education in Alabama includes tuition and fees, books and supplies, room and board, and other living expenses. These costs will vary greatly according to the length of the program selected, the number of years taken to complete the program, and the particular school chosen. A certificate will take 1-2 years to complete, an associate’s degree will require 2-3 years of study, and a bachelor’s degree will take 4-6 years to complete. The longer the degree, the greater the expense.

Private colleges and universities are institutions of higher education that are not financially supported by taxes or other public funds; they are instead entirely funded through private monies. Like their public counterparts, private colleges and universities offer a wide variety of traditional two-year and four-year nursing programs, with the added benefits of smaller class size and greater prestige. Smaller class size improves the educational experience by enabling personalized assistance and educative care.

Public colleges and universities are institutions of higher education that are financially supported by taxes or other public funds. Alabama's two largest public educational institutions are the Alabama Community College system and the University of Alabama system. Public colleges and universities offer a wide variety of traditional two-year and four-year nursing programs, and they typically charge lower tuition for state or county residents than private institutions.

Vocational, career, and community colleges offer job-specific technical training for students launching careers in the so-called “white collar” disciplines. One of the tremendous benefits of these two-year institutions is that they provide a streamlined, rapid path to nursing employment versus a traditional four-year college. Within 12-18 months, candidates can complete a licensed practical nurse (LPN) certificate program; within two years, they can complete an associate's degree in nursing (ADN) program.

Nursing employers are demonstrating a growing preference for applicants with a bachelor’s and/or master’s degree in their chosen field. These advanced nursing degrees can be obtained through a four-year college or university. Four-year colleges confer a bachelor’s, or baccalaureate, degree as their highest undergraduate honor. A bachelor’s degree typically requires four to six years to complete. In addition to bachelor's degree programs, many universities offer graduate nursing education including a master's of science in nursing (MSN) degree program.

The path to a lucrative career in nursing in the state of Alabama begins with obtaining the proper education and training at an accredited nursing school. The state, which is home to an impressive population of more than 80,000 nursing professionals, also requires licensing, registration and/or certification, plus continuing education for every nursing career path. Some of the most common nursing career paths include certified nursing assistant (CNA), licensed practical nurse (LPN), and registered nurse (RN).